Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 30
By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:
Sport will benefit from the European Games to be held in Baku, Andrej Bastar, the managing director of the Switzerland-based independent, international business intelligence and risk assessment consultancy, Brasidas Group, told Trend Apr. 30.
He noted that holding of the First European Games in Baku will have significant impact on the sports in the region, because, as he said, earlier the sport was centralized in Europe, America and Asia, adding that Azerbaijan has put a very big impact on sport in the region.
Bastar also said the television broadcast of the Games will have huge impact on Azerbaijan's economy.
It should be noted that agreements have been signed in the US, Canada, Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Latin America and the Arab World as well as with European broadcasters for the coverage of the European Games.
"I think once the games are televised, a lot of people in Europe, in America, in Asia will get more knowledge in terms of tourism potential in Azerbaijan," he said, adding the games will be a big magnet to attract tourists to Azerbaijan.
He went on to add that Azerbaijan has an excellent international image.
"I think the games will definitely put Azerbaijan on a solidified position in the region and in the world," Bastar added.
Baku 2015 is the first-ever European Games, an exciting and innovative multi-sport event for the continent which will take place on June 12-28, 2015.
There will be a total of 20 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports. More than 6,000 athletes from across Europe will be representing their nations over 17 days of competition. Baku was awarded the games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012.